She told the new grads to look to Medgar and Myrlie Evers as examples.

"For those of you thinking about your future careers, just imagine how important it will be to stand up and speak out," said Clinton, a former first lady, senator, secretary of state and Democratic presidential candidate.

Daniel Evers-Everette, the grandson of Medgar Evers, also spoke to the class of 2017.

"Look back to your past as a lesson," he advised the students as they prepared to move onto careers and graduate schools. "Don't live in it. Look at it as a lesson."